The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-21
NEVER SAW HIS WIFE.
The Strange Romance of a Kansa.
City Couple.

From, the st. Louis Post Dispatch.
HE has never seen bis wife!' This was
the statement which fell on the ears of the
Post Dispatch correspondent as he was
slowly walking down West Sixth street.
Two gentlemen We're standing in doorway
engaged in conversation, and it was the re-
mark of tall, well-fed, elderly gentleman
which was heard.
The idea certainly savored OF the queer,
and the curious correspondent stopped, de-
termined to find out if possible the story of
the man who never saw his wife. The tale
was drawn out, and a strange one it proved
TO be. A gentleman who was not blind,
who was i'll full possession of all his facul-
ties, and who had been married for over
two years. had never seen his wife!
We will call him Frank Green. Were his
real name known many friend and many
a business acquaintance would start in sur
prise. Likewise we will call the lady in the
case Miss Black, for it would be decidedly
unpleasant for her high connections in this
city, and it would afford too much gossip
at the club, We're her true name used. Miss
Hortense Black was once the idol of society
here, for she was beautiful, intellectual and
refined. She moved in the highest circles,
and no fashionable entertainment was con-
sidered a success without her presence. Ad-
mirers she had by the score, rich and poor.
handsome and homely, but none did she
favor. In July, 1885, in company with her
parents, who seemed to take pleasure in in
dulging her in every caprice, but who had
some wild notions of a high marriage for
her, she went North and stopped for two
weeks in the pleasant city of st. Paul On
the last day of her stay there, while riding
from one of the resorts in the suburbs of
the city, she
LOST HER PORTMANTEAU,
which contained nearly 800 in money and
half-dozen cabinet photographs of herself.
The next morning in the principal papers
she offered $40 reward for the return of the
articles, and before 8 O'Clock it was sent up to
her room, together with handsome little
note, saying that the finder did not care for
the $40, but begged to retain as his reward
one of the pictures She could not well re-
fuse the request under the circumstances,
and replied that he was welcome to the re-
ward he asked.
That day the family left st. Paul, and in
a few weeks returned home to Kansas CITY,
Miss Hortense had not been home a week
when she received letter from the finder
of the portmanteau, containing a likeness
of himself, and such words as are supposed
to be written or uttered only ON long ac-
qaaintance. She would never have replied,
ordinarily, but she gazed at the handsome,
intelligent face of the picture and-the let
ter was answered. Other letters followed,
and, strange as it may seem, the girl who
had refused her hand to many an old friend,
and many a wealthy and hlghly-con-
nected one, promised Frank Green
whom she had never seen and knew moth
ing about, that she would marry him on
the second Wednesday in October if he
came for her. After the letter had gone
she told her parents all and begged their
forgiveness. They were highly indignant
at the course of their daughter and Mr..
Black declared that he would meet the gen.
tleman from st. Paul at the door upon his
arrival, and order him from the house.
True to his word, on the evening of the
second Wednesday in October he and his
wife waited patiently for Mr.. Green, while
Miss Hortense was ordered to remain in her
room under penalty of provoking the direst
parental ange
MR.. FRANK GREEN, OF ST. PAUL.
came. He was young, attractive, we'll
dressed and courtly in manners. He car
ried papers which spoke high recommenda-
ton, and which would have gained him en-
trance to the most select companies; but
stern old Mr.. Black met his every advance
with a frown, and the young man was
ordered to quit the place and not return
"The manner you have taken to win my
daughter shows that you are no part of a
gentleman, sir" exclaimed Mr.. Black in
angry tones. "If you were what you should
be your very first visit here would not be to
take away the sunshine of the house.
Marry my daughter tonight? l am aston
ished at your impudence Go! she is not
for you'll"
But love knows more ways than one
The old servants loved their beautiful
young mistress, and they could not refuse
her when she asked for a note that was
handed in from the back door, although they
shook their heads gravely. They said moth
ing in regard to the note to the master, but
when, an hour later, as the shades of night
were falling, Miss Hortense, heavily yelled,
took side door from the house and was
ushered into a waiting carriage by a
stranger, they felt it necessary to speak, and
Mr.. and Mrs Black were at once informed
of the circumstance.
o, the sensation of that houri Mr. Black
hurried out and saw the carriage going at a
lively gait down the street. A hack was
passing, and entering it. he gave hurried
orders to overtake the carriage ahead. But
the task was not so easily accomplished.
The runaway couple managed to elude the
irate parent for time, and the latter never
overlook them until a Justice had pro-
nounced the last word that made them man
and wife. Miss Hortense still wore her
heavy veil, and it was not removed until
after the trying scenes which followed Her
father, with wrathful curse. took her from
her husband, drove with her rapidly home
and
CONFINED HER IN HER ROOM.
Never had the proud Black family con-
ceived of such a disgraceful affair as this
Could they ever hold up their heads again7
By morning Mr. and Mrs. Black had
formed plans for the future. They would
take their hayward daughter abroad at
once, and she would never see her husband
again. Accordingly, they travelled the
Continent for two long years, Frank Green
In the meantime remaining in Kansas City,
engaged in a most profitable business, but
ever mourning for his lost wife--the wife
he had never seen. He knew not where
she was, only that she was not in
America. He was true to his
marriage vows. and he never doubted
that the girl whose picture had so captured
his heart was true to hers. He wondered
sometimes that she did not write to him,
and then he thought of the strict watch
which doubtless was kept upon her every
movent and preventing even line reach
ing him. The time dragged slowly enough
to the young husband. We're it not that be
lost himself much in business those days
would have been an eternity to him. Yet
he never lost hope entirely that some day
she would return to him. and the happiness
so long denied would come il full measure.
And Hortense Green, far away in a for
elgn land, grew sorrowful and pale. She